Originally from Montreal, Ashley Tinker came to settle in the Alpilles with her partner, Robin. In her blog, "Curious Provence", she lists her top choices, recommended places to visit and local products, all unearthed during her outings. This curious foodie had no hesitation in knocking on our door and sharing her vision of the region with us. From Provence with love, have a read!

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Elodie Van Zele, blogger for Chut Mon Secret

Filled with dreams of new possibilities, Elodie Van Zele left Paris to settle in the heart of Marseille. Six years later, this professional journalist who heads up the successful Chut mon Secret blog, is still making those dreams a reality and dreaming new ones, always tuned in to the city's heartbeat. Focus on this unique resident of Marseille.

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Corinne Vezzoni, architect from Marseilles

Elected Female Architect of the Year in 2015, Corinne Vezzoni invited us into her office, located on the 6th floor of Le Corbusier's Cité Radieuse. Refreshingly open, and calling herself "a chameleon architect," she tells her own story through her buildings. Meeting.

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Originally from Montreal, Ashley Tinker came to settle in the Alpilles with her partner, Robin. In her blog, "Curious Provence", she lists her top choices, recommended places to visit and local products, all unearthed during her outings. This curious foodie had no hesitation in knocking on our door and sharing her vision of the region with us. From Provence with love, have a read!

Filled with dreams of new possibilities, Elodie Van Zele left Paris to settle in the heart of Marseille. Six years later, this professional journalist who heads up the successful Chut mon Secret blog, is still making those dreams a reality and dreaming new ones, always tuned in to the city's heartbeat. Focus on this unique resident of Marseille.

Elected Female Architect of the Year in 2015, Corinne Vezzoni invited us into her office, located on the 6th floor of Le Corbusier's Cité Radieuse. Refreshingly open, and calling herself "a chameleon architect," she tells her own story through her buildings. Meeting.

From her first steps in the garden of the family home in Grasse, Julie has loved beautiful fragrances, particularly those of the Mediterranean. This love has led her to blend intoxicating and precious essences for some of the best-known companies, including L'Occitane en Provence. Meeting.

One has been a well-known chef for over 40 years. She was awarded a Michelin star in 1995. The other is a culinary instructor and creator of the Free Cuisine Institute Mother and daughter make a happy pair running the kitchen at the Auberge La Fenière, which has recently become the first 100% gluten-free gourmet restaurant. Meeting.

In less than two years, 'Les Marseillaises' by Clara Cohen-Solal has earned itself a place under the Provençal sun. No doubt thanks to the young Marseille native's ability to impart her joie de vivre, and present a modern view of the region through her blog. Meeting.

Mothers and daughters share a lot of secrets. They are passed down or inherited, and beauty tips have always had a special place among them. L'Occitane meets four Provençal mothers and daughters to discuss their beauty rituals and what beauty means to them. Is it like mother, like daughter?

Her bold style combined with her incisive, yet always generous touch has adorned a number of L'Occitane products this winter… Soledad Bravi, the iconic illustrator for Elle France, tells us about her artistic inspiration and gives us some beauty tips over a coffee. "Thanks to art, I can express myself and tell my story. For me, it's a real language". Meeting.

As manager of a pottery studio alongside her sister Julie, Marion Ravel has the all-consuming passion of those who embody a family business. From her workshop in the heart of a magnificent farmhouse in Aubagne, she discusses her life story and her vision of the world. Discovery.

Hailing from a small town a stone's throw from the city of Marseille, Marina Dalmas, alias Marina Kaye, is now firmly established as one of the French-speaking revelations of 2015. Aged 17, the singer-songwriter continues to win the hearts of fans with her first pop-rock influenced album, 'Fearless'.

Nicknamed "lou gros soupa" (big supper), the symbolic meal eaten on Christmas Eve has all the makings of an elaborate ceremony, reflecting its influence at the heart of Provençal culture. Let's take a look at the different stages of this key moment in Advent.

Marseille's Atelier Gelato has held the coveted title of maître artisan since 1992 and is a point of reference for santon art. The eldest daughter of the couple who founded the workshop, Muriel expresses herself through her passion for these small clay figurines from Provence.

From picking the ripe fruit to bottling the precious elixir, making olive oil is a lengthy process. At the end of each year, a community of olive growers in the centre of Provence engages in this time-honoured pursuit centred around the tree that is the symbol of the region.

Originally from Paris, but today with her heart in Aix-en-Provence, Brigitte Fabry has a passion for others. From teaching eighteenth-century patina finishes on wood, to welcoming students to her charming farmhouse in the village Puyricard, this generous artist likes to reveal everyone’s true colors.

If Paris figures prominently among the fashion capitals, where tomorrow's trends are on display during Fashion Week, it cannot however claim a complete monopoly over French creation! Let’s focus on those fashion must-haves that have emerged under the Mediterranean sun.

A teacher by profession, Claudie Gallay conquered the literary scene in 2008 with the success of her novel ‘The Breakers.’ Since then, the author continues to scrutinize souls and places, through modern fables taking shape under the Provencal sun.

From south of Avignon to the Nice coast, the vineyards of Provence have been renowned for millennia due to an exceptionally rich terroir. At harvest time, pride in this terroir comes alive under the expert hands of the region’s producers.

Coming from the Provençal "Ped-tanca" meaning the game of planted feet, Pétanque, or Boules, is more than a sport, it’s a veritable French tradition. Inseparable from the singing accent of Southerners who play with passion throughout the year, this ancient practice is an important part of a genuine Provençal lifestyle.

Facing the bay of Calvi, Noëlle Irolla has been running her small family business specializing in the aromatic plants of Corsica since 1993. Between organic production and family harvests, this enthusiast masters the art of making a very precious nectar: essential oil of Immortelle.

Amongst the terraced gardens of the Château de Lauris, the botanical garden belonging to the association Couleur Garance is dedicated to plants used for dying. A site both of discovery and conservation, this Eden of natural dyes permits everyone to understand one of the region’s secular traditions.

Between modern freshness and sweet simplicity, the Franco-Scandinavian label Le Stockholmsyndrome is the result of the successful conjunction of its multiple influences, just like its pretty designers Louise and Rosina.

Perched on a hillside in the heart of the village of Gordes, the Terrasses Theater hosts the annual summer festival Soirées d’Été. The event comprises six performances, a mix of theater, dance and music and punctuated with a subtle touch of humor, making for a real success story!

Originally from Paris, and today resident of Marseille, fashion designer Christina Sfez has been creating, since 2011, sublime wedding dresses with a bohemian spirit. Designs that she carefully makes in her workshop on the Cours Julien, to the delight of future wives with a retro style.

After winning over crowds in Paris, the exhibition American Icons retires peacefully to the Granet Museum in Aix-en-Provence. It’s an opportunity to understand the work of twentieth-century American masters of contemporary art, on loan from the San Francisco MOMA during its renovation.

At 67 years old, the renowned mosaic artist Michel Patrizio shares, in all simplicity, the fruit of his 40 years of experience in Marseille's oldest workshop. Let’s look back on the singular career of this local boy, today one the profession’s most iconic figures.

Fascinated by life’s rare moments, the photographer Jean-François Mutzig has immortalized the many tourists strolling on the Valensole plateau during the summer season, with an exhibition entitled "Femme Lavande” or “Lavender Woman”.

Often possessing a taste for boules and pastis, the Provençal male cannot, however, be reduced to these charming clichés. Winemaker, fashion designer, chef or sculptor, here are four unique personalities that reflect the many facets of this man from the South.

Four years after the tsunami that rocked Fukushima, L'OCCITANE continues to give aid to the inhabitants of the Japanese archipelago. An initiative that today sees three artisans from the Tohoku region, particularly affected by the disaster, invited to discover the art of Provencal markets.

Native to the Luberon region, Matthias Malet carves green wood from the Mediterranean basin. From his workshop in Lourmarin, the artist follows his inspirations, working his craft with dexterity and poetry.

Since the early 1980s, L'Occitane has been committed to a fair-trade partnership with the women of Burkina Faso who make Shea butter. This exceptional ingredient takes care of women’s skin, and contributes to their empowerment.

Nestled inside their pretty yellow boutiques, L'Occitane products can be found in every corner of the planet. Yet they are indeed Manufactured in Provence! Come behind the scenes of your favorite cosmetics company, inspired by this sublime region.

Originally from Mallemort, a small town between Marseille and Avignon, Simon Porte Jacquemus caused a sensation last Paris Fashion Week when he presented a collection directly inspired by the city of Marseille. Summer, here we come!

After completing her studies in London, Clémence Monot now makes a living from her passion. A talented and creative illustrator, she is quick to share the secrets of her success and talk about her creative world, that she likes to define as “realist.”

Passionate about textiles since the age of 16, Christine Millerin today runs a textile studio in Arles, where she revives damaged and exotic fabrics. A world of foreign accents is waiting for you to discover.

Get out your diaries! The Rosa Centifolia, the ultimate scented flower, is on display until 5 July at L’Occitane en Provence Museum located in Manosque. Discover the true story of this sublimely Provencal flower.

Located in Roussillon, Ôkhra – the Applied Pigment and Ochre Conservatory – is celebrating its twentieth anniversary this month. An opportunity for this cooperative to celebrate its success and cast an eye back over its achievements... See you on June 14!

Famous for the manufacture of ceramics, the Manufacture Ravel, based in Aubagne for over 170 years, today is also celebrated in a completely different field. Relaunched in 2011, Philogène Ravel is dedicated to the creation of fine French household linen.

Looking for an original and tasty Mother’s Day gift idea? The online chocolate shop zChocolat offers a range of elegant, creative and fully customizable gift boxes; something to please moms around the world.

Looking for a Mother’s Day gift? Victoire Gerez, a talented florist based for the last two years in Aix-en-Provence, gives us the idea of a pretty bouquet of flowers, and lets us in on some trade secrets. It’s an ideal Mother’s Day gift, a symbol of love and tenderness.

Developed in the seventeenth century, enfleurage is a traditional method of extracting perfume from flowers. Because it permits the faithful reproduction of the fragrance of fresh flowers, L’Occitane is revisiting it today, with the registration of a new patent.

In Roumoules on the Valensole Plateau, Emmanuelle Ravel cultivates roses, but not just any rose! Centifolia, the variety so well known to perfumers, is her rose of choice. With the help of her flower pickers, she harvests this wonderful scented flower in June. We joined them.

In Pont de l’Etoile, a small village located in the town of Roquevaire in the Bouches-du-Rhône department, the self-taught painter and potter Danielle Jacqui creates singular and monumental works, each more amazing than the last. A unique world to discover without delay!

Wine lovers, this place is for you! Located at more than 400 meters altitude in a small village in the Luberon region near Manosque, Domaine de Régusse owes its reputation to the quality and variety of wines that are produced there. Red, rosé, white... There's something for everyone!

Part of Grasse’s application for intangible cultural heritage status, in France and for all humanity, the International Perfume Museum in Grasse offers visitors a unique exhibition dedicated to the skills related to perfume, and runs until March 31, 2014.

At the Hostellerie Bérard & Spa hotel, located in La Cadière d'Azur, a charming little village in the Var, the restaurant is headed by the Michelin-starred chef René Bérard and his son Jean-François, and aims to be traditional, Provencal and elegant all at once! Located in a sumptuous setting, the establishment offers gourmet meals and cooking classes.

This very old tradition is still perpetuated by certain families in the villages of Provence. The Cacho-Fio consists of burning a log by both the oldest and the youngest at the gathering in a ritual meant to evoke the forthcoming transition to the new year.

Expect to find talent in ceramist Emmanuelle Wiramus’s Aix-en-Provence workshop. This self-taught woman, who changed profession after pregnancy, exhibits her works from November 21-24 at the Le Ruban Vert gallery.

In his studio located 3 kilometers from the village of Forcalquier, the ceramist Guillaume Common toils at an art that only a handful of specialists master around the world: crystalline glazes. A discipline that requires both art and science !

Belgium doesn’t have the monopoly on chocolate! In Puyricard, near Aix-en-Provence, the Roelandts family has managed to give it the distinction it deserves, despite it being a delicacy that is not so popular in Provence.

It’s a little yellow van filled with L’Occitane products that crisscrosses the roads of Provence. So no need to move: your favorite products – creams, perfumes or soaps – now come to you, with, as a bonus, a soothing hand massage.

Provence cannot be dissociated from lavender, which dresses with its blue-violet tones the hills and mountains of the region. It’s a precious natural, cultural and economic gem that could well disappear. Here’s why.

Halfway between Aix-en-Provence and Avignon, the Moulin de Vernègues is a little haven of peace nestled in the heart of the Pont Royal Golf Course and Estate. More than just a hotel, the place provides a genuine experience focused around wellbeing since the opening last December of a L’Occitane spa.

Gérard Jourdan lives among his hives in Auriol and three times a week treats locals to his honey. You can find him on the markets of Marseille, selling his nougat, gingerbread and honey and sharing his passion and know-how with his customers. Let’s meet him !

Considered to be one of the most beautiful villages of France, Moustiers Sainte-Marie is famous for its artisanal earthenware and ceramic makers. It’s an exceptional place, as much for the charm of its alleyways as its inhabitants, of which Franck Scherer is a fine example.

In Provence, Christmas dinner is known as the “gros souper,” or big supper. To enhance this traditional family feast, locals decorate their table in a very special way. Joyce Borgmann, owner of the guesthouse L'Oustaou de l'Oulivie in Oraison and Provencal cuisine specialist, introduces us to this ritual.

The Fert family has been making “scourtins,” filters used in the traditional production of olive oil, for over three generations. A Provençal adventure made up of innovation and expertise that continues thanks to Arnaud and Frédérique Fert’s passion. But what is a “scourtin”? Watch this video and find out.

In Nyons, the Bleu Provence Distillery extracts the nectar from herbs and flowers, delicately collecting their essential oils, the necessary ingredients for producing perfumes and cosmetics. We met with Philippe Soguel, an expert distiller, educator and a lover of Provence, to learn about his passion.

The designer Guillaume Bardet came up with a crazy project: to design an object every day from September 21, 2009 to September 20, 2010. He produced them in collaboration with the potters of Dieulefit, the Provencal center for ceramic production.

Many questions remain forever without answer. What is the meaning of life ? Are we responsible for things we don't know we've done ? What is beauty ? And especially, why does everyone own a terra-cotta cicada ?

Tucked between Marseille and Cassis, at the foot of the Massif du Garbalan so dear to Marcel Pagnol, Aubagne embodies the soul of a sincere and authentic Provence. And, it’s the capital of "santon" figurines.

In the town of Anduze, at the gateway to the Cévennes National Park, potters perpetuate the tradition of the Anduze garden pot, appreciated throughout the world. The Madeleine Pottery maintains these traditions, while bringing its crockery into the contemporary sphere.